Setting and like mechanism for timepieces



N v 19.53 F. REYMOND SETTING AND LIKE MECHANISM FOR TIMEPIECES Filed June 8, 1951 Patented Nov. 24, 1953 SETTING AND LIKE MECHANISM FOR TIMEPIECES Fernand Raymond, Le Senticr, Switzerland Application J une 8, 1951, Serial No. 230,515

Claims priority, application Switzerland August 21, 1950 6 Claims.

1 The object of the present invention is a setting mechanism, more particularly, but not exclusively designed for a wristwatch of the automatic winding type.

The said box is characterized by the fact that its back is traversed by the axis of a rotary member having an outer portion and an inner portion and capable of being operated from the outside, on the one hand with the purpose of being able to rotate the whole, on the other hand with the purpose of being able to move it in a direction perpendicular to its axis, in order to bring the inner portion into contact with an element of a movement placed in the case and in order to be able to set the said movement through this agency.

' The accompanying drawing shows an embodiment of the object of the invention given by way of example. Fig. l is a partial section of the back of the box through the axis of the rotary member; Fig. 2 is a view of the back through the interior; Fig. 3 is a similar partial view.

In the back I of the case shown, is made an opening 2 lengthened in the radial direction, which is traversed by the axis of a two-part rotary member, the one outer 3 and the other inner 4, assembled by a screw 5.

The outer part 3 is a disc having a knurled edge 6 and a cannon l directed inwardly, in which is threaded the screw 5.

The inner part 4 is a toothed wheel 8, one cannon 9 of which is placed above the cannon 1, the screw maintaining these two parts pressed one against the other and integral one with the other.

The disc 3 carries sealing joints I0, bearing against the back of the case I under the effort exerted from the inside by the elastic washer I I, cut out star-shaped.

A reverse arrangement of the joints might be provided by placing them on the inner part, but this solution would be less practical.

It is obvious that due to the lengthened profile of the opening 2 it is possible, in addition to its rotation, to impart to the rotary element formed by the parts 3 and 4, a movement in the direction of the arrows [2, either in the direction of the centre of the case, or in the opposite direction, perpendicularly to the axis formed by the two assembled cannons.

The numeral 13 shows in dot and dash lines the position of a few members of a movement of a watch supposed to be placed in the case described and the numeral l4 shows the position of a 2 toothed wheel integral with the centre pivot and capable of directly driving the train of wheels.

As may be seen from the drawing, by pushing back the rotary member 3 and 4 in the direction of the centre of the case, the inner toothed wheel 4 of the said member is brought into contact with the Wheel I4 of the movement, so that by rotating the disc 3, and with it the toothed wheel 4, the setting to time may be carried out.

This completed, the rotary member 3 and 4 will be pushed back in the opposite direction, to the starting position shown.

These movements take place parallel to the plane of the back of the case and perpendicularly to the axis of the rotary member.

In order, moreover, to be able to block this member in the two positions of rest and time setting, there is provided a flat annular spring l5, arranged in a corresponding groove in the back of the case, in the manner shown in more detail in Figs. 2 and 3.

As shown in Fig. 2, in which the assembly of the elements forming the axis of the rotary member is indicated in section by Hi, the spring I5 is open and terminates in two ends I! and I8 the profile of which is such that it constitutes both an admission for the axis l6 and may also serve to maintain it in its position of rest, forced back to the outside.

By bearing centripetally against the disc 3, the latter is pushed back inwardly and the axis reaches the position of Fig. 3, in which it has separated the ends I! and H! of the arms of the spring and is seized between them.

The advantage of this arrangement is to render the movement into the time setting position less easy (entailing a greater effort) than the return to the position of rest, in the direction of which thlef axis I6, slightly offset, tends to spring by itse It is understood that the spring l5 does not oppose the rotation of the axis [6.

By reason of the possible direct attack of the train of wheels, in the case of the example dea scribed, the time setting mechanism resulting from the use of a watch case according to the present invention allows of momentarily immobllizing the movement, and therefore of time setting by determining at will the corresponding position of the seconds hand.

I is obvious that the rotary member traver i the back of the case might slide in a direcii i i other than radially, and the toothed wheel which it carries, cooperate with a movable member other than a wheel placed in the centre, the main characteristic of the invention being a case in which the movement of the rotary member in question takes place not axially, but perpendicularly to its axis.

0n the other hand, since the inner part of the rotary member could be made to cooperate with any movablemember of the movement, it is obvious that the latter forms no part of the invention, although in most cases it will be preferable to adapt it to the case in question, that is to say to provide it with an additional movable member designed to cooperate with the inner part of the rotary member.

What I claim is:

1. A timepiece comprising, in combination, a casing having a first transmission member turnably mounted within same, said casing having a rear wall; a second transmission member located within said casing and being mounted on said rear wall thereof for turning movement and for movement into and'out of engagement with said first transmission member; manually engageable means locatedon said rear wall of said casing on the outside thereof and being operatively connected to said second transmission member for turning the same and moving the same into and out of: engagement withsaid'first transmission member; and holding means operatively conheated to saidwsecond transmission member for releasably. holding the-same in a first position in engagement with said first. transmission member and in a second position out of engagement with said first transmission member.

2; A timepiece comprising, in combination, a

casing having a rear wall formed with an elongated opening. passing therethrough; a first transmission member located in said casing opposite. said: elongated opening in said rear wall thereof; amanually engageable member located outside. of said casing opposite said opening in said rear wall thereof; elongated connecting means passing through. said elongated opening and interconnecting said first transmission member and-saidrmanually engageable member, said connecting-means being freely movable along the lengthof said opening and being freely turnable therein; a secondtransmission member turnably mounted'in said casing adjacent one end of said opening to be engaged and turned by said first transmission: member when said connecting means is turned and locatedin a first position adjacent said one end' of said opening,.and said transmission members being out of engagement with each otherwhen said connecting means is located in a second position distant from said one end of said opening; and holding means operativelyconnected to said connecting means for releasably holding the same in said positions.

3, A timepiece as defined in claim 2 and wherein said connecting means comprises an elongated member passingtransversely through said elongated opening and wherein said holding means comprises a springy substantially U-shaped 4 member having a pair of opposite free ends re-' siliently engaging opposite sides of said elongated member when said connecting means is in said first position and located against one side of said elongated member when said connecting means is in said secondposition.

4. A timepiece as defined in claim Band wherein said elongated member is cylindrical and said free ends of said U-shaped member are located apart from each other, when said U-shaped member is unstressed, by a distance less than the diameter of said elongated member.

5. A timepiece as defined in claim 4 and wherein said rear wall of said casing is formed on the 'inner face thereof with a substantially circular recess in whichsaid U-shaped member is located.

6. A timepiece comprising, in combination, a casing having a rear wall formed with an elongated opening passing therethrough; a first transmission member located in said casing opposite; said elongated opening in said rear wall thereof; a. manually engageable member located outside of said casing opposite said opening in said rear wall thereof; elongated connecting means passing through said elongated opening and interconnecting said first transmission member and said manually engageable member, said connecting means being freely movable along the length of said opening and being freely turnable therein; and a second transmission member turnably mounted insaid casing adjacent one end of said opening-to be engaged and turnedby said first transmission member when said connecting means isturned and located in a first position adjacent said one end of said opening, and said transmission members being out of. en gagement witheach other when said connecting means is located in a second position distant from said one end of. said opening, said connecting means beingintheform of a pair of elongated members respectively extending from said first transmission member and said manually engageable member with one of said elongated members Located withinthe other of said elongated memers.

FERNAND REYMOND.

References Cited in. the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

